Authorities say many of the victims were children, as rescue efforts continue after the Niger River overflowed and swept away entire communities.
The death toll from devastating floods in Niger State, western Nigeria, has risen to at least 110, authorities said Friday, as rescuers continue to search for survivors in what officials have described as a heartbreaking disaster.
Ibrahim Hussaini, spokesperson for Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), told CNN that “many children” were among the victims. The flooding began early Thursday morning in the Kpege neighborhood of Mokwa city, when most residents were still asleep, according to NEMA.
Hours of torrential rain caused the Niger River to overflow, sweeping through three communities: Kpege, Tiffin Maza, and Anguwan Hausawa.
Abdullahi Baba Arah, NEMA’s director general, reported that more than 50 homes were destroyed “with their occupants inside,” complicating rescue operations and raising fears that the death toll will climb as search efforts continue. So far, only three people have been pulled out alive, including two children.
The Niger State government called the event a “deadly flood” that left “numerous lives lost” and “buildings submerged,” describing the scene as “sad, heartbreaking, and pathetic.”
In a statement shared on social media, NEMA said its “top priority is rescuing survivors, evacuating the injured and the deceased, maintaining security, and delivering food, water, hygiene products, shelter, and safety to restore normalcy.”
Zubaida Umar, NEMA’s director general, urged local residents to stay alert and cooperate with rescue teams. “People living in the affected area are advised to remain vigilant and report any incidents to security operatives and emergency responders,” she said.
Seasonal flooding is not uncommon in northern Nigeria, but its frequency and intensity have increased in recent years. In 2022, the country endured its worst floods in more than a decade, leaving over 600 dead and displacing more than one million people. Just last year, similar floods in the region killed more than 200 people and affected over 386,000, according to NEMA data shared with CNN.
As rescue efforts continue, officials warned that the tragedy in Mokwa could worsen in the coming hours.
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